-Remembering Saruwatari-

Chapter 1: Masato

The path was well set off from everything else in the village. From that pathway lay a small, underlying trench which fresh water flowed through. If you followed that fresh water, you would find a small patch of flowers in the middle supported by two metal beams parallel to each other. These beams floated on the water. From the beams, just walk a few miles forward, and you would reach the house of the Saruwatari.

I'll tell you the story of my people. The Saruwatari are gentle, and like to live in secrecy. Our name means "monkey under a crossing bridge", and I would have to say, we live true to our name. We don't live under a crossing bridge; of course not. We live in well hidden places. For example, if you followed the fresh water trench, you would find that it ends at a wall. An untrained person would simply walk away from the strange sight of water running into a wall. A trained eye could see that the water flowed under the wall, and that the wall had a small fold where the water was. If you lifted the "wall" from where the fold was, you would find my house.

My family lives in an old dojo that my uncle once used for training. All of the Saruwatari have shaggy brown hair and dark black eyes, expect for me. I have curly brown hair and silver eyes, sort of like my monkey—go figure—Saruwatari. I'm the youngest in my family under one brother and one sister, both 17. My mother is bedridden and my father is preparing to go out to war with the emperor. My brother is going to war with father and my sister is busy taking care of mother. I had heard through the grapevine that father had implemented some help from a band of legendary mercenaries. So far, I hadn't met them.

Until that day…

It was a normal day for me: taking care of Saruwatari, helping my sister with mother, helping my brother gather his armor and train. Father had a meeting with the emperor to plan their first line of attack of the rival village. Mother was feeling better this day, since it was pleasant outside and not too hot or too cold. Sister had an easy time of it today as a result, and I felt happy for her.

A few hours later, when father came home, he had brought visitors. There were seven of them, and brother Masaki and sister Hitori looked shocked when they came in the door. I wouldn't have known who they were until later.

The one that caught my eye was the youngest. He held a large halberd and had long black hair tied into a braid. Saruwatari was calm around him, so I figured he must have been alright. I looked like a mess that day, though. After helping out with Hitori and training with Masaki (Who was, in comparison, superior to me), my dark blue trousers were torn, and my red kimono top with the orange obi was hanging off of my left shoulder. My brown hair was tussled, too, hanging into my eyes and falling down my back in messy curls. Father had sat on his high chair which I had been sitting on the head of. When he tumbled down into the strong whicker chair, I squealed in shock and scrambled away with Saruwatari following closely behind. Masaki sat besides father on his left side and Hitori sat on his right I sat back on the head of the chair with Saruwatari on my back. The seven men stayed standing, and I watched with curiosity.

"Bankotsu, these are my children. Masaki, Hitori, and Masato." Saruwatari screeched in protest. Father sighed. "And there is Saruwatari."

Saruwatari seemed to nod, then went back to clutching onto my back. Father had gone on to explain the situation to Bankotsu and the rest of the Band of Seven from there. They had listened intently, and seemed fixated on the mission at hand. Father had dismissed Hitori and Masaki, but I was instructed to stay behind. Saruwatari and I sat on the head on the chair again, watching Father and the leader of the Band of Seven whisper to each other. Father turned towards me as I waved at him, Saruwatari following suit, his large silver-green eyes smiling at him. I slid off of the head on the chair, landed on the cushion in the seat, and then landed on my butt on the ground. Saruwatari had been on my head during the whole ordeal. Father sighed, but nonetheless took me up by my shoulders and held me in front of him.

"This will be your guide through these lands."

I gasped, looking at Father incredulously. "F-father, what help am I to them? I'm only a simple girl, father. A simple girl with a pet monkey!" Saruwatari chattered nervously.

"Masato, you know this land better than anybody in the family, I would say." Father said. I opened my mouth to argue, but he put a finger over my lips. "Besides, you've barely been out of the house."

I stared down at my tattered clothes. "You must be kidding about not being out of the house." I stated sarcastically.

"Well, training doesn't count."

"A—"

"No, going to the store to pick up food is not considered being out of the house, either."

I was frustrated, to say the least. The question was, was I really going to go or not?